Full fibre vs. other fibre broadband… what’s the difference?

If you’ve switched internet provider recently, you’d be forgiven if you tied yourself in knots trying to figure out the difference between all the ‘fibre’ packages on offer. And you wouldn’t be the only one.

Here’s the thing. Not every broadband provider is being straight up with you. Not naming names, but some of the bigger providers have been throwing around the word ‘fibre’ to make run-of-the-mill broadband packages seem better than they are. So many people may have been led to believe they’re getting full fibre broadband, when in fact they have a far inferior hybrid solution.

Ofcom bring in rules to stop misleading use of ‘fibre’ broadband

Ofcom has announced a new set of guidelines that will ensure broadband providers will only be allowed to use terms like ‘fibre’ and ‘full fibre’ if their network brings fibre optic cables all the way to your home, i.e. Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). It should clear up some of the confusion consumers are met with when comparing broadband deals. But what’s the difference between full fibre and all the other types of broadband? Here’s a quick run-through.

Full fibre means Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). No copper in sight.

Fibre optic cabling goes straight into your home with full fibre, rather than relying on copper cabling from the street to your property. This makes a huge difference in terms of speed and reliability, as copper wires can slow down and degrade the signal. Full fibre offers faster, more reliable broadband, which carries with it a whole bunch of great benefits: buffer-free streaming, no-lag gaming, crystal clear audio and lots more.

Other ‘fibre’ broadband means Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC).

This is fibre delivered to the cabinet on your street, then copper wiring for the final stretch. Prior to Ofcom’s ruling, broadband providers were allowed to refer to this as part-fibre, fibre broadband, and hybrid fibre in contracts and on their websites – without a clear explanation. That’s now changed. Although providers can still use those terms on their websites, in contract information, and in contract summaries, they must clearly explain the technology behind their broadband products using clear, simple and unambiguous language.

Is full fibre available in your area?

If you’re looking for the best broadband option for your home or business, consider switching to full fibre if it’s available in your area. You can check availability and browse packages at lightspeed.co.uk.